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Date: Tue, 4 Jun 1996 15:01:13 +-200
Reply-To: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: ChrExp, The Scriptures opened, 86
To: Multiple recipients of list CHR-EXP
Contents
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1. John 12:24 - Dying bringing forth fruit
2. Luke 9:23 - Deny self, take up the cross, follow Christ
3. Proverbs 3:11,12 - The son chastised
1. John 12:24 - Dying bringing forth fruit
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Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die,
it abideth alone:
but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
John 12:24
When you try to keep your wheat, it will abide alone. You have some
wheat, and you keep it. It abides alone; that means, you keep the
amount of wheat you had before. But if you throw the wheat away, that
is, in the ground, it will bring forth fruit. Except a corn of wheat
fall into the ground and die, it abides alone; but if it die, it
brings forth much fruit. When you are too cautious, and dare not throw
away your wheat, it will not increase nor will it bring forth fruit.
But if you throw it in the ground, and let it rot there, it will bring
forth much fruit. Let the wheat rot in the wet and warm ground, and it
will increase greatly. "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing
precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his
sheaves [with him]." Ps 126:6. Throw the precious seed in the ground,
and let it die there. Death goes before life. Let the wheat die and
become mouldy, and it shall bring forth sheaves full of new wheat.
When you bury your seed in the ground, it will putrefy there. But you
will return with rejoicing, bearing your sheaves.
Like it is with the corn, so is it with our bodies. When we die, at
the end of our life on earth, we bury the body in the ground. After
some time it will be in a state of decomposition. But, like the corn,
in the day of resurrection, it will arise anew. Some will arise to
eternal damnation, but God's children will arise to eternal glory. The
example of this we have before our eyes yearly, when we throw the
wheat in the ground that it may arise again in a renewed and better
form. Dying it will bring forth much fruit.
Jesus said: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat
fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it
bringeth forth much fruit." When the body of Jesus died, he bore the
wrath of God, that He might bring forth much born again children.
Jesus died, and was laid in the grave, that He might bring forth much
fruit. Of Jesus Christ is written: "Behold I and the children which
God hath given me." Heb 2:13. He brought forth much fruit. "Forasmuch
then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he (Christ)
also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he
might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And
deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject
to bondage." Heb 2:14,15
Jesus said that, if the corn of wheat fall into the ground, and if it
die, it will bring forth much fruit. Why did He say this? It is a
parable. What is the meaning of this? We know that the seed rots in
the ground, and brings forth new sheaves. We also know that Jesus
died, and through death delivered those that were given Him. We also
know that the bodies, after having been buried, will arise again. But
why did Jesus tell this short parable? The reason of that He
immediately says. "He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that
hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal." Joh
12:25. When one loves to see his wheat and does not throw it in the
ground that is may rot there, he will never have fruit. So, when one
loves his own life, and does not spend it in the service of the Lord,
even unto death, he will never see his fruit. "He that loveth his life
shall lose it". But he that throws the wheat in the ground to rot
there, will see much fruit. He will return carrying his sheaves. "He
that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal".
When one spends himself in God's service, even unto death, and hates
his own life in this world, and sows it in the ground, he will keep it
unto life eternal. Let we learn then to give all what we have,
including ourselves, without holding back, to the service of God. Let
us learn to hate our lives in this world, that we may keep it to life
eternal. He that tries to keep his life, will lose it. But he that
hates his life in this world, shall keep it unto eternal life. This is
the lesson. But how difficult is it to bring it into practice. Who is
there that hates his own life? Everybody indulges his own body, and
none is there that keeps under his body, like Paul. He said, "But I
keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any
means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
1 Cor 9:27. He that loves his life in this world shall lose it. But he
that hates his life in this world, shall keep it unto life eternal.
2. Luke 9:23 - Deny self, take up the cross, follow Christ
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And he said to [them] all,
If any [man] will come after me,
let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily,
and follow me.
Luke 9:23
Let no Christian expect ease and a good life here. For, if any man
will come after Me, said Christ, let him deny himself. Let him take up
his cross daily, and let him follow after Me. One that lives a good
life, has comforts and all what he wishes, cannot be a follower of
Christ no matter what he says with his mouth. For, if he were Christ's
follower, then he would have afflictions and a cross to take up daily.
Let a Christian not indulge the flesh, but instead of that deny
himself. Does the flesh wish to have much sleep? Let the flesh be
denied. Does the flesh like to eat much and drink more then necessary?
Let the desires be denied, lest we become drowsy and unable for the
Christian combat.
Many will come after Jesus, for, then they think to have heaven. But
who is there that really comes after Him? Who is there that really
denies himself? Who is there that willingly takes up his daily cross?
Who is there that not thinks out his own ways, but follows Christ on
the narrow path to heaven? Many say and think they have accepted
Christ, but seldom you find one that willingly takes up the cross.
Many think that being believer is gain, but only a few understand that
one should loose his own life in order to keep it to live eternal.
One day follows after another. When we take up the cross daily, one
day after another, then also one cross follows after another. Daily to
take up the cross is not easy. No sooner has one day ended, or it
becomes night, and after that the next day. The cross also is a daily
misery. No sooner has one misery ended, or the night follows, and
after that the next misery. Let we take up the cross daily, deny
ourselves and follow Jesus Christ. Our Saviour ended His life on the
cross. Let we willingly follow Him, and die with Him. If you will come
after Him, then deny yourself, and follow Him even unto the cross.
"Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples,
Let us also go, that we may die with him." John 11:16. Let us go with
Christ unto Jerusalem that is on the earth, that we may die with Him
there. But after we have died in the earthly Jerusalem, we will go to
our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Who is in the heavenly Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem that is on earth slays the prophets and apostles that
are sent to it. Let us take up the cross, follow after Christ, and die
with Him.
Let every true believer prepare himself for much suffering. Before one
enters into the covenant with God, let him consider the costs: denying
yourself; daily taking up your cross; die with Christ. Before you
enter the covenant, consider these things. Let not the reality
afterwards surprise you, so that you fall away. Before you begin to
follow Christ, prepare yourself for much sufferings and a daily
renewed cross; day after day. We should become accustomed to self-
denial and submission. This is the best preparation for the martyrdom
that is connected with following Christ. We should live a life of self-
denial, killing of the flesh, and contempt of the world. We should not
yield to lusts and ease. For in the case we yield to the lusts, it
will be hard and difficult to do difficult works for Christ's sake, to
bear tiredness and want. We are daily subject to affliction and
suffering. We should reconcile ourselves to the will of God. We should
acquiesce in the will of Christ. We should learn to bear oppression.
On the ways of duty we often find a cross. Though we should not put a
cross on our own shoulders, yet we should bear it after Christ, when
the cross is put on us by another. And let us then learn to bear it
willingly, and complain not. Also, the cross has much spiritual food
in itself, as is written: "We glory in tribulations also: knowing that
tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and
experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God
is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto
us." Romans 5:3-5. So the cross works patience, experience and hope.
And the hope makes not ashamed. Let we then take advantage of the
cross, and become experienced in patience, practice and hope.
If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross daily, and follow Me.
3. Proverbs 3:11,12 - The son chastised
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My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD;
neither be weary of his correction:
For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth;
even as a father the son [in whom] he delighteth.
The righteous often ask: "Why am I so heavily chastised, and the
wicked go on and rejoice?" Every day my chastisement is renewed. Every
day I take up the cross, and follow after Christ. But the wicked, they
go on in their own course. They have no afflictions. They have no
cross, neither deny self. They have joy every day. Their business
flourishes. Their children grow up and are healthy. But why is my
chastisement every day present? Why must I endure much sufferings? Why
have I trouble after trouble? The reason why the godly suffer much and
the wicked suffer not, is this: God chastises His children. "My son",
says Solomon, "despise not the chastening of the LORD". Sometimes you
may be weary of God's chastisement. But to this the same Solomon
answers: "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither be
weary of His correction". Why should I not despise this? And why
should I not be weary of God's correction? Because "whom the LORD
loveth He correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth."
Why have you your daily cross? Because the Father in heaven has
accepted you as His son. He corrects the son, and uses chastisements
for that. You have still much sin in you. The correction of the LORD
is necessary, to kill that sin.
God chastises His children. Therefore, if you are without
chastisement, you are no child, but a bastard. "Whom the Lord loveth
he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure
chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom
the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof
all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons." Heb 12:6-8.
If God chastises you, He has His wise reason for it. If there were no
reason for chastisement, He would not do it. But now, since you have
your daily portion, there is something in you to correct. There is
some sin in you; some error that must be rooted out. You have some
idol set up in your heart. By God's correction, He tries to remove
that error. Therefore, if you are partaker of chastisement, search
yourself closely. What is the reason of the troubles you endure? Why
is God correcting you? Say with David: "Search me, O God, and know my
heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked
way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Ps 139:23. Search me,
O God, if there be some reason for my chastisement, and show it me,
that I may repent through Thine grace.
If the LORD loves you, He will chastise you. "For whom the LORD loveth
He correcteth". Like a father corrects the errors of his son, so will
the LORD correct your sins.
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chr-exp@nic.surfnet.nl
"A Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel"
Institute Practical Bible-education
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/ipbe-home.html
Written by Teus Benschop -- t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
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file: /pub/resources/text/ipb-e/so: s-open-086.txt
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